Best things to do in Lefkogeia in 2024: Activities and Attractions
Lefkogeia is a village in the Rethymno region of southern Crete, 3 km inland from Skinaria beach and about 5 km east of the resort of Plakias. Lefkogeia sits above the coast that faces the Libyan Sea, and the paved road down to Ammoudi beach starts in the village. That road, and the short run of coves it opens up, is the reason most people pass through.
Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport to the village. Lefkogeia works as a base for the beaches and gorges of the Plakias area, with 5 beaches, 2 walkable gorges and the monastery of Preveli inside 5 km.
Things to do in and around Lefkogeia
Five outings start within about 10 km of the village, listed below from nearest to furthest.
- Visit Preveli Monastery. The monastery stands 2.6 km from Lefkogeia, and its museum sits at the same site, so the two make one stop.
- Walk the Kourtaliotiko gorge. The ravine runs 3 km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains in the Xiro Oros range, 2.8 km from the village. A paved road cuts through the canyon to the viewpoints and the trailhead, and Kourtaliotiko holds a waterfall, year-round springs and the chapel of Agios Nikolaos at the foot of the cliffs.
- Hike the Swallows’ gorge. The route begins at the Kenda peak, 881 m up, passes through Drymiskos village and ends at Drymiskiano Ammoudi beach, 4.1 km from Lefkogeia at its nearest point. Chelidonia runs nearly parallel to Kourtaliotiko, dries out in summer, takes its name from the swallows that gather here, and needs no special equipment.
- Spend an evening in Plakias. The resort village is 4.8 km away at the mouth of the Kotsifos valley, with a curved sandy beach called Gialia closed off by Cape Kako Mouri and Cape Stavros. Low-rise building has kept Plakias a long-standing choice for independent travellers who want a quieter base than the north-coast resorts.
- Drive up to Spili. The mountain village lies 9.3 km away at about 430 m on the slopes of Mount Vorizi in the Kedros range, with about 800 year-round residents, cold running water and a shaded square. Spili is the seat of the Agios Vasileios municipality and takes its name from the Greek word for cave.
Beaches in and around Lefkogeia
Lefkogeia has no beach in the village, but 5 lie within about 4 km on the coast below, and the roads to them start here. They suit snorkellers and divers more than paddlers, because most of these bays have rock under the water.
- Ammoudi lies 2.4 km away at the end of the paved road from Lefkogeia, with white sand, a rocky seabed and bright green water. Umbrellas, taverns, rooms and a scuba diving centre sit beside it, and tamarisk trees give shade.
- Skinaria sits 3 km south of the village, a secluded bay of grey-beige sand and fine pebbles with deep turquoise water. The rocky, marine-rich seabed makes it one of the finest snorkelling and diving spots in the area, and spring-fed freshwater ponds sit on the shore.
- Damnoni is 2.7 km away, an organised sandy bay of coarse pale sand and clear turquoise water at the mouth of an olive-covered valley. The west end is busy and the east end quieter, with small coves beyond it.
- Preveli follows 4 km away where the Megalos Potamos river meets the Libyan Sea at the mouth of the Kourtaliotiko gorge. Theophrastus date palms line the banks in one of the few natural palm forests in Europe, and the river widens into a lagoon that also goes by Phoenix or Finikas.
- Kalypso closes the list 4.1 km away between Plakias and Preveli, a small cove under steep cliffs where narrow rock passages drop into deep, calm water. It suits confident swimmers, snorkellers and divers rather than small children.
Where to eat in and around Lefkogeia
Eating in and around Lefkogeia means village tavernas within about a kilometre of the centre and a taverna down at Damnoni beach.
- Cretan Flavors cooks Cretan food 900 m from the centre.
- Despoina stands 1.1 km from the village.
- Gefyra Taverna Cafe works as both taverna and café, 2.1 km out.
- Damnoni Taverna sits beside Damnoni beach, 2.7 km away.
Getting to Lefkogeia
Most drivers reach Lefkogeia by crossing the island from Rethymno to this stretch of the south coast. Chania (CHQ) is the nearest airport, and Plakias, about 5 km west, is the nearest village with a full range of rooms and shops.
A car matters here more than in most villages. Every beach sits at the end of its own road down from the village, the two gorges start 3 km and 4 km away, and the mountain village of Spili is a further 9 km inland.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lefkogeia in Crete?
Lefkogeia lies in the Rethymno region on the south side of Crete, 3 km north of Skinaria beach and about 5 km east of Plakias. The village sits above the coast facing the Libyan Sea, in the eastern part of the Plakias area.
Does Lefkogeia have a beach?
Lefkogeia has no beach in the village, but 5 lie within about 4 km. Ammoudi is reached by a paved road that starts in Lefkogeia, and Skinaria sits 3 km south.
Which airport is closest to Lefkogeia?
Chania (CHQ) is the closest airport to Lefkogeia. The village sits on the south coast of the Rethymno region, so the drive crosses the island from the north.
How far is Preveli beach from Lefkogeia?
Preveli beach is 4 km from Lefkogeia. The palm-lined lagoon forms where the Megalos Potamos river reaches the sea at the mouth of the Kourtaliotiko gorge, and the monastery of the same name stands 2.6 km from the village.
Can you walk a gorge from Lefkogeia?
Two gorges start within about 4 km of the village. Kourtaliotiko runs 3 km between the Kouroupa and Koules mountains and has a waterfall and a chapel at the cliff base, while the Swallows’ gorge is an easier dry-summer walk that ends at Drymiskiano Ammoudi beach.
Where Lefkogeia is
Best things to do in Lefkogeia in 2024 is located at Lefkogeia. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
